Stitch separating and indenting tool.



J. B. HADAWAY.

STITCH SEPARATING AND INDENTING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1907. RENEWED NOV. 15, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

, java/aw?" ass a FFQQ JOHN B. HADAVAY, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEVJ JERSEY, A CGRPURA'IION 0F NEV] JERSEY.

STITCH SEPARATING AND INDENTING TOOL.

Application filed September 3, 1907, Serial No. 391,013.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. HADAWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stitch Separating and Indenting Tools; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improved tool for stitch separating machines, and more particularly to a stitch separating and indenting tool provided with blades or teeth to enter adjacent stitch intervals and with a groove or grooves to shape the crowns of the stitches. In tools of this character heretofore devised the indenting teeth or blades have either been immovable with relation to each other or have been so arranged that their adjacent crown shaping surfaces do not form a continuous groove but the groove is interrupted by a space between the two blades so that only the ends of a stitch are shaped by the tool and the apex of the stitch is left in an unfinished condition. l/Vith the first mentioned type of tool the groove must be located accurately upon the crowns of the stitches, which can only be accomplished where the stitches vary but slightly from the average. Furthermore, with such tools the work does not always present an even and regular appearance since even if the tool is located properly on the crowns of the stitches the indentations produced between the stitches vary in width. With the other form of tool referred to the intervals between the stitches can be properly indented whether or not the stitches vary in length but the finish which is desired in many classes of work cannot be imparted to the crowns of the stitches since the apex of the crown is not acted upon by the tool.

The object of the present invention is to produce a stitch separating and indenting tool provided with stitch separating blades or teeth movable with relation to each other to compensate for stitches of varying lengths and also provided with a crown shaping groove or grooves, the surface of which is unbroken in all positions of the blades so that the stitch intervals of a seam can be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Renewed November 15, 1909. Serial No. 528,143.

properly located and indented and the entire surface of the crowns of the stitches shaped and finished in a satisfactory manner.

With the above object in view the present invention contemplates the provision of a stitch separating and indenting tool, the blades of which are movable with relation to each other to accommodate stitches of varying length and the groove or grooves of which is formed by overlapping surfaces which act upon the entire crown of a stitch regardless of any movement of the blades toward and from each other in locating the stitch intervals of the seam. Broadly considered the invention may be embodied in any suitable form of tool and may be arranged to be actuated to separate and indent the stitches of a seam in any desired manner. Also the invention broadly considered may be embodied in a tool provided with any desired number of indenting blades or teeth and grooves and either or both of two adjacent blades can be mounted so as to be movable toward and from the other. In the preferred form of the invention hereinafter described, however, the tool is constructed and arranged to be used in a stitch separating and indenting machine which has gone into extensive use and in which the tool is recip rocated toward and from the work, as it has been found that this type of machine locates the stitch intervals of a finished seam with greater accuracy and produces better results than other types of machines which have heretofore been devised. Also in the preferred form of the invention hereinafter described the indenting tool consists of but two blades which can be forced into the work without exerting the excessive pressure which would. be required if a greater number of blades were provided. To provide a simple and compact construction, as well as one which is strong and durable, one of the blades is formed upon a rigid shank while the other blade is provided with a shank of thin metal so that it can yield laterally and is provided with a shoulder which rests upon and is supported, when the tool is thrust into the work, by a supporting surface on the other blade.

The invention will be clearly understood from an inspection of the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of a wellknown form of stitch separating machine with a separating and indenting tool embodying the present invention in its preferred form applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation on an enlarged scale of the indenting tool together with the carrier in which the tool is mounted and the upper work support of the machine, and Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 2 with the upper work support shown in section.

With the exception of the indenting tool the machine illustrated in the drawings is the same in construction and mode of operation as the stitch separating machine disclosed in applicants prior Patent No. 543,012, dated July 23, 1895, 1 indicating the lower work support, 2 the'upper Work support, 3 the tool carrier, 1 the tool carrier lever, 5 the pressure lever by which the indenting tool is forced into the work, 6 the lifting lever by which the indenting tool is raised from the work, 7 the feed slide by which the tool is actuated to locate the stitch intervals and feed the work and 8 thespring by which the tool is yieldingly held in en gagement with the work while the stitch intervals are being located.

The improved indenting tool illustrated in the drawing comprises a stitch separating or indenting blade or tooth 9 formed upon the lower end of a rigid shank 10 and a blade or tooth 11 formed upon the lower end of a thin yielding shank 12. The blades 9 and 11 are provided on their adjacent sides with surfaces which form a crown shaping groove, the surface of the blade 9 extending laterally beyond the surface on the blade 11 so that the surfaces overlap and the groove formed by the overlapping surfaces of the blades remains unbroken regardless of any lateral movement of the blade 11 toward and from the blade 9. To allow the surface of the blade 11 to overlap the surface of the blade 9, a shoulder is formed on the blade 11 as best shown in Fig. 2 which shoulder is supported by the blade 11 when the tool is thrust into the work there by the blade 11 as well as the blade 9 are rigidly held against the thrust of the work. The shank 10 of the blade 9 is received in a split clamp in the lower end of the tool carrier 3 and is secured therein by means of a clamping bolt 13. The shank 12 of the blade 11 is bent as indicated in Fig. 2 and at its upper portion is provided with a longitudinal rib which is received in a recess in the side of the split clamp which holds the shank of the blade 9. The shank of the blade 11 is clamped to the tool holder by means of the clamping-bolt 13 which passes through an elongated slot in the shank, the purpose of this slot being to enable the shank of the blade 11 to be adjusted longitudinally with the shank of the blade 9 and maintain the shoulder on the blade in engagement with the supporting surface on the blade 9.

The nature and scope of the present invention having been indicated and a preferred form of the invention having been specifically described, what is claimed is 1. A stitch separating and indenting tool provided with indenting blades arranged to enter adjacent stitch intervals and movable with relation to each other to compensate for stitches of varying lengths, and also provided with overlapping surfaces forming an unbroken groove in all positions of said blades to shape the crown of a stitch.

2. A stitch separating and indenting tool consisting of a rigid stitch separating blade and a stitch separating blade movable laterally with relation thereto, said blades being provided with overlapping surfaces forming an unbroken groove in all positions of said movable blade to shape the crown of a stitch, and said movable blade being provided with a shoulder engaging the surface of the rigid blade.

3. A stitch separating and indenting tool provided with a laterally movable indenting blade having a shoulder and a thin shank above the shoulder and also provided with a surface engaging said shoulder and supporting the blade against the thrust of the work.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. HADAWAY. l/Vitnesses:

EDWARD S. DAY, ANNIE C. RICHARDSON. 

